Pigeon with broken left femur in custody

[mr squeaks]

How terrible heartbreaking, Terri! I am so sorry! I know all of us who have been following this thread are just devastated!

Rest In Peace, Cassidy.

LOVE AND HUGS Terri and and Dan!

[TAWhatley]

Ohhhh Terri .. I am so very sorry about Cassidy. What an incredibly little hard luck and bad luck bird. I'm just devastated that you had to see Cassidy through his last minutes .. I am so very sorry. Thank you so much for all you did to help Cassidy.

Thank you for all you did, and please do let us know about the necropsy.

Terry

[Trees Gray]

TerriB,

I am so sorry to hear about Cassidy. I know this had to be incredibly heartbreaking after everything he went thru.

Thank you for everything you did for him, and making the right choice for him.

[jazaroo]

Terri, I am so sorry, this truly is heartbreaking news to hear. God bless you for all you did for Cassidy and for being there for him in the his last moments.

Ron

[Lady Tarheel]

Terri, I am heartbroken to read this today. This little one had captured our hearts and hopes. I was really concerned though when I read about the lead/metal in his gut and was so afraid that it would cause irreparable damage.

You absolutely did the right thing in ending his suffering.

Love and gratitude to you (and Dan) for at least trying to save Cassidy.

[Kwikkordead]

I guess the only good that can be had from this is that Cassidy was spared a long starving death in the wild and being eaten by crows, had he not had the encounter with a car. His injuries brought him into some sheltered places and was spared that agony.
Crows do attack and eat smaller/weaker birds. I've witnessed it right in front of my shop door.

[flitsnowzoom]

Bless all of you who take time and love to comfort God's creatures. I'm sure little Cassidy was much more comfortable in his last days than he would have been by being left like so much trash to die a miserable, slow death. He was warm, safe from further harm, and surrounded by love. What more can any of us ask.
Somewhere Cassidy is flying free and easy. Thanks to those who gave him his wings.
Tears and feather hugs, Mary

[Trees Gray]

That was very well said, Mary.

[Larry_Cologne]

Terri,

I am sorry to hear of the outcome, but I feel grateful to you and all who helped with him, and am glad that his final minutes were peaceful.

I know it is too late for my speculation, but after the necropsy can you ask your vet about the size and shape of the piece of metal, and if it were magnetic. Just a wild thought for the future if we should come across the same issue. Could the metal have been wiggled upwards with a maqnet? I seriously doubt it, but like I said, just a wild idea for the future. The piece of metal, as you say, was in the proventriculus, and if I have the anatomy correct, that would inside or past the bony "collar" or pectoral girdle formed by the clavicles (collarbones) attaching to the scapulas (shoulder blades), the coracoid and the spine? If the metal were sharp-edged or pointed, or had corners, then it wouldn't work.

Perhaps my imagination is overworking. Don't want to get you too busy with this. Actually, it looks a bit silly, but I guess I will leave it.

Sometimes there is a time for quietness, after a death. If you don't want to respond to this, fine, I understand and agree completely.

Larry

[pigeonmama]

Terri,
You sure tried your hardest to give this poor little'un a chance for a good life. I don't know of any one who could have done more or better. Poor baby, at least he is not suffering, and was assisted over the rainbow bridge gently, with loving hands.
Daryl

[feralpigeon]

Terri, I'm sorry to read about Cassidy and know that in the moment w/the medical facts accumulating, you made a loving and caring choice.

Mary, you expressed it very well, it's hard to improve on your words.

fp

[TerriB]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

...I'm just devastated that you had to see Cassidy through his last minutes...
Terry

Actually, it was very calm and peaceful. The injection was IM, so it took effect very gradually. I've held numerous animals being euthanized, and this was so very gentle.

Originally Posted by Kwikkordead

I guess the only good that can be had from this is that Cassidy was spared a long starving death in the wild and being eaten by crows, had he not had the encounter with a car....

Yes, I totally agree with you. His keel was sharp, so I think he swallowed the metal several days prior, being young and inexperienced. Perhaps his hunger made him less aware and responsive, which is why he didn't get out of the way of the car. You were in the right place and the right time for this little bird. I am so glad you did what you did.

Originally Posted by Larry_Cologne

...after the necropsy can you ask your vet about the size and shape of the piece of metal, and if it were magnetic...
Larry

Thank you all for your kind words. The doctor was very respectful and supportive, asked if I wanted to be present for the euthanasia (yes) and the necropsy (yes). The necropsy was done right there, once we were sure Cassidy was completely gone. The inner workings of a bird are so amazingly delicate. Interesting idea, Larry. The piece of debris in his proventriculus seemed to be of white metal, relatively light, so probably not magnetic. One side was sharp, as if it had sheared off. Nasty thing to swallow.

The end result is not what I had hoped for, but I think it was the most merciful thing for this little bird.

[Trees Gray]

Hi TerriB,

Thank you for sharing his last moments and the necropsy.

[Lady Tarheel]

Terri, thank you for the update. I know it was difficult to go through the euthanasia process and also the necropsy. How large was the piece of metal?

[mr squeaks]

From what you said about the piece of metal, Terri, especially with one side being sharp, I think euthanasia was a wise decision. Sure am glad you had an X-ray done!

Again, thank you for all your kindness!

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